A Certified Nursing Assistant, or CNA as they're referred to, carries out general medical treatment processes according to the administration of a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Registered Nurse (RN). While they are tyically required to accomplish general tasks, nursing assistants have opportunities to deal directly with the patients. For this reason, CNA certification is required to ensure patients get great care primarily from highly-trained nursing assistants.

Sometimes known as a 'home health aide' or 'patient care assistant', a CNA is taught to operate in a wide variety of settings which range from hospitals and nursing homes to assisted living facilities and personal homes. Satisfying yet demanding, working as a Certified Nursing Assistant is regarded as a launchpad to more enhanced health careers down the road.

CNA and the Nursing Sector

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the demand for nursing aides, assistants and orderlies is expected to rise an incredible 20 percent by the year 2020. This growth is much higher than the national average for other major careers.

A number of clinics have elevated CNA turn over rates. For that reason, the demand for newly trained nursing assistants is practically endless. This turnover is generally due to Certified Nursing Assistants leaving the discipline to advance themselves on the professional ladder. It's important to note that Registered nurses and Nursing Aides are both exposed to the same stressors. Due to this fact, prospective nursing aides must learn to develop highly effective work integrity at the outset of the CNA training period.

Roles and Accountabilities

A nursing assistant is delegated by LPNs or RNs to execute basic bedside care. CNA-to-patient interaction can be a delicate process, and that's why courses and qualifications are mandated by law.

With regards to role, CNA training is different from orderlies and medical aides. Orderlies are accountable for managing equipment servicing and wheelchair issuance along with other daily procedures. Medical aides work immediately underneath the physician but unlike nursing assistants, they don't require any kind of official certification.

Some of the responsibilities of a CNA include the following:

- Patient repositioning and turning: To prevent pressure ulcers amongst bed-ridden and post-operative patients, nursing assistants are assigned to adjust the patient every 2 hours or so. Safeguard of both the patient and CNA is a primary concern, and as a result basic principles in proper body alignment ought to be followed.

- Hygiene: To make sure of the patient's well-being, nursing aides also help with sustaining cleanliness at all times. Ranging from shampooing to basic oral care, nursing aides are responsible for trying to keep patients clean and restful.

- Vital signs: Vital sign taking and monitoring are standard practices that are necessary to obtain a comprehensive patient evaluation. Vital indicators include the body temperature, breathing rate, heart rate and blood pressure.

Education and Accreditation

Dependent on where you are located, a State Licensing Board in most cases would need a prospective CNA to complete a certification exam. Certification only comes after one effectively accomplishes the CNA training required by law. The good news is, the training time frame only lasts between 6 to 12 weeks; as a result, entry into the workforce is much quicker compared to other healthcare fields.

CNA classes on the internet are also offered for people who presently hold a full-time job but are aspiring to pursue the CNA. For those who are serious, CNA courses are typically provided by technical or vocational schools at a minimum of 75 hours.